The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne looked around at the grandeur of the Brooks Mansion one last time. The Brooks family, a

name that once meant everything to her, had become a thing of the past.

Baron could not hold back but called out as she was about to leave. “Vivienne… what kind of

punishment will he face?”

She paused, her beautiful eyes brimming with delight as she glanced back at the face that time had not

been kind to. “The law will take care of his misdeeds. How severe the punishment will be depends on

the gravity of his crimes.”

With that, Vivienne looked at Baron, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “No wonder the Brooks have

stood strong for a century. Baron, you sure have mastered the art of playing the fool.”

Baron’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

Vivienne’s slender, pale fingers brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her smile now bewitching.

“I’m not Scott’s biological daughter. You knew that all along, didn’t you?”

Baron’s pupils shook, but then he slowly revealed his true cunning nature, mixed with a unique

sharpness. “You’re frighteningly clever, Vivienne. It’s a shame you’re not my blood. If you were, I’d

hand over the reins of the Brooks family to you.”

He believed the Brooks name could stand firm for another century with Vivienne in charge.

But Vivienne’s smile deepened. “It’s a pity, but the Brooks family doesn’t interest me.”

After a brief pause, she added, “Baron, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Otherwise, life can be quite

exhausting, don’t you agree?”

She had to admit that Baron always had many roles up his sleeve. He could play the domineering

patriarch, the affectionate father, or the carefree man hidden from the world.

Even his recent display of affection towards Scott was an act.

When had he ever stopped performing? Perhaps only when he spoke of Dahlia did a moment of

genuineness shine through.

Baron watched Vivienne for a long while before he burst into laughter. “You’re right. Ignorance can be a

blessing.”

He had never truly loved his so-called eldest son or his current children. They were all conceived

through Judith’s schemes—drugging, intoxication, and more.

How could he harbor deep affection for them?

It was more a sense of guilt for not fulfilling his fatherly duties. When he was forced to send Scott away,

and when Scott returned, he knew that the boy was no longer the child he once knew. But Scott held

the fate of the entire Brooks family and its foundation in his hands.

If Baron had refused to hand over the position of head of the family, he might well have found himself

dead by Scott’s hand.

So, he had no choice but to pass on the mantle and keep control of the Brooks business empire as

leverage to protect the family.

For years, he avoided meddling in Scott’s affairs, choosing to spend his days in a nursing home. But he

was not oblivious to Scott’s actions, including the plot to use Paula to kill Karen.

At that time, he could do nothing but buy Karen some time at the engagement party, doing his duty as a

father to avert some of the disaster headed Paula’s way.

His performance for Vivienne today was also to ensure that she would not take action against the

Brooks family in the future.

If he had not sold Scott to that organization back then, Scott and Karen might have become the perfect

couple people talked about.

However, he had not expected Vivienne to lack any real blood ties to Scott either. Indeed, he had

known this for quite some time.

Someone had delivered a paternity test for Vivienne and Scott, which differed from the one in Scott’s

possession. His showed no blood relation.

Baron did not know who sent it, but being as shrewd as he was, he realized someone was targeting

Scott and even helping Vivienne from the shadows.

That was why he stood up for Vivienne when the Brooks family gave her trouble, although she never

needed his protection.

His support of Vivienne was not just because of her capabilities but also for Karen, the talented woman

who came to investigate Scott but was willing to lend a hand when the Brooks family was in trouble.

Helping Vivienne was also a way to repay a favor. But…

No one knew that he had been aware for a long time that Scott was not his son.

How long had he known? He could not remember.

Vivienne glanced over at Timothy and Melissa’s family. “If you ever need my help, just ask.”

She would still look out for the Brooks family for her mother’s sake.

With that, she linked arms with Percival and walked away.

Leaving the Brooks Mansion, Vivienne received a text from Astrid.

[Vivienne, got time? Fancy a shopping spree?]

A smile curled the corners of her lips, her slender fingers swiftly tapping a response on the screen.

Watching the light dance in her eyes, Percival playfully rubbed the corner of her mouth. “What’s making

you smile?”

She pocketed her phone, her eyes reflecting his handsome features. “Astrid wants to hit the shops.”

He nodded, “Let’s go. I’ll drive you there.”

Outside the mall, Astrid waited, donning a pair of stylish shades and a chic hunter-green trench coat,

looking every inch the model she was.

She truly had inherited every bit of Cordelia’s beauty.

Vivienne’s silhouette became clearer from a distance, and Astrid, with a warm smile breaking across

her face, slid off her sunglasses and approached her friend. “Hey, sorry for the last-minute invite. Hope

I didn’t interrupt any hot date plans?”

Vivienne glanced back at Percival trailing behind and chuckled, “No worries, he’s just my bag carrier

today.”

With a nod and a casual salute, Percival affirmed his role.

Linking arms affectionately, Astrid and Vivienne walked into the mall together.

Vivienne was not really in the mall for anything, while Astrid was mainly out to pick up some clothes for

Cordelia and Dorian.

After meandering through stores for a while, they settled into a cozy booth at a bustling buffet

restaurant.

“Being away from home so much, I can’t help but feel like I owe my parents,” Astrid mused between

bites. “Sometimes, the guilt just hits, you know?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay

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Vivienne looked up, her eyes shimmering with unspoken thoughts. “Why didn’t you invite Mom to join

us today?”

A flicker of discomfort crossed Astrid’s face, quickly smoothed over by a practiced calm. She laughed it

off. “Oh, they’re swamped with the business. If it’s not the new fragrance formula, it’s the marketing

strategy. They don’t have time for mall trips.”

“Sure, they’re busy,” Vivienne replied, scooping up a spoonful of the creamy soup, her voice light.

Astrid bit her lip, seemingly on the verge of saying more, but hesitated in Percival’s presence.

Catching the tension, Percival glanced at them and then stood up. “I’ll grab some more food.”

Once he was out of earshot, Astrid set her spoon down and leaned in. “Vivienne, I’ve been meaning to

talk to you about something, but I’m not sure if this is the right time.”

“Just say it,” Vivienne responded, putting aside her plate and meeting Astrid’s gaze squarely.

Astrid exhaled deeply, “I know I may have overstepped, but there was no ill intent. I just think… What if

you joined Mom and Dad’s company? Even if you married into the Ellington family, you’d have

something of your own. What do you think?”